AASCU Chooses 34 Education Leaders for the Department Chair Leadership Institute
Contact:
Kellee Edmonds
(202) 478-4662
edmondsk@aascu.org
WASHINGTON, August 13, 2025−The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) has selected 34 higher education leaders to participate in the fourth cohort of its Department Chair Leadership Institute (DCLI).
Launched in 2024, the program is designed to address the unique needs of department chairs and help these front-line campus leaders develop the skills they need to succeed in advancing their institution’s mission and ensuring student success. This week, the cohort is meeting in Washington, D.C., for two days of skills building and intensive professional development.
DCLI participants will engage in discussions that address the common challenges department chairs face. Topics include strategic communications, navigating difficult conversations, centering the academic mission and student success, situational leadership, and wellness for leaders. The program also emphasizes building a strong and supportive network of colleagues through peer leadership exercises.
“We are honored to welcome the newest DCLI cohort,” said Charles L. Welch, AASCU president and CEO. “This will be a transformational experience that equips them with the critical skills and supportive network needed to lead in today’s complex higher ed environment.”
This program is made possible with support from Academic Search. Richard Helldobler, president of William Paterson University (NJ), is the institute’s executive sponsor and lead faculty member.
View a full list of participants.
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The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) is a Washington, D.C.-based higher education association that represents the sector of over 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems whose members share a learning- and teaching-centered culture, a historic commitment to serving today’s students, and a dedication to research and creativity that advances their regions’ economic progress and cultural development. These are institutions delivering America’s promise.
